The South African elections commence on May 29, presenting itself as the next most critical election since the country took on democracy in 1994. The polls become even more significant given that opinion polls highlight that the current party in power, the African National Congress (ANC), might lose the majority it held for the first time in 30 years of power.
Even so, the ANC might still gain the largest share of votes, leading to the possibility of coalitions becoming commonplace, as many opposition members have pointed out. Thus, ANC leader President Cyril Ramaphosa might continue to remain in office unless he encounters any internal challenges that might arise as a result of poor electoral performance.
While Ramaphosa would contend from the ruling party’s end, the main opposition leaders include Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Jacob Zuma of uMkhonto we Sizwe (recently disqualified).
Ramaphosa and the African National Congress
Ramaphosa, 71, gained power in the 1980s as a union leader of an important miners’ strike. In 1991, he was also crucial in negotiating talks with the country’s then-white minority government, which ultimately led to the abolition of apartheid as the secretary-general of the ANC. Eventually, Ramaphosa became the party’s leader in 2107, emerging as President of South Africa in the 2019 polls upon the resignation of the previous president, Jacob Zuma.
The ANC, in the current elections, promises to create millions of jobs in 5 years that would boost investment, in turn strengthening the private sector and wiping out corruption. Given the ANC’s role in the anti-apartheid movement, the party still gathers large support.
However, due to the slow pace of development over the years, poverty, unemployment and corruption continue to remain rampant alongside high crime rates, poor education and infrastructure. This has led support to drop in recent years, which could adversely affect its performance in the coming election.
Other candidates in South Africa’s incoming elections
Malema and the Economic Freedom Fighters
Malema, 43, broke away from the ANC to create his Marxist party, the EFF. Therefore, he also shares Ramaphosa’s legacy of the historic anti-apartheid liberation movement, although to a lesser extent. While Malema was suspended from the ANC in 2011 for encouraging societal differences, he was accused of money laundering by a South African court in 2015 due to delays.
Keeping true to Marxist economic policies, the EFF advocates tighter immigration laws alongside nationalising industries and redistributing land, making the party unpopular within the country’s business community. Hence, their voter base looks primarily towards the young working class. Malema’s ties to the ANC through their shared history make the EFF a possible coalition partner for the ANC.
Steenhuisen and the Democratic Aliiances
Steenhuisen, 48, was initially a city councillor in Durban, entering the National Assembly in 2011. He gradually emerged as the leader of the DA in 2019 after the resignation of two senior-most Black leaders. They explained the DA’s conventionally white audience (and consequent white privilege) made it difficult to expand its appeal, an accusation that continues today.
Steenhuisen, white himself, rejects said accusations, assuring accountable governance. He also criticised the Black empowerment scheme of the ANC, which he labelled as “racial bean counting.” Steenhuisen emphasised poverty-reduction schemes blind to race.
Nevertheless, the DA gained the second-largest share of votes in the previous election after the ANC. Staying true to its pro-business outlook, the party in this election promises to liberalise the economy further, which includes a greater push towards privatisation, alongside the creation of 2 million new jobs, reducing the crime rate and ending power cuts.
Zuma and uMKHONTO WE SIZWE
Zuma, 82, served as President from 2009 to 2018, forced to step down upon having his tenure rife with economic stagnation, corruption scandals and downgrading credits. He is a contemporary of South Africa’s first President, Nelson Mandela. They were both imprisoned for 10 years on Robben Island under the white regime during the anti-apartheid movement.
His court sentence for 15 months in 2021 upon failing to procure evidence to the court led him to be disqualified for contesting the May 29 elections. Nevertheless, his name would be up on the ballot as the leader of the recent MK party. Much like the ANC, the MK party also promises an increase in job opportunities, alongside making education free and reviving Africa’s traditional leaders.
Apart from available jobs, the high crime rates, lack of water and overall slow economic growth, the general mood of the South African voting population paints a bleak picture. While all political parties promise development, several citizens are of the opinion that the country is headed in the wrong direction, as per a 2022 survey by Afrobarometer. Nevertheless, the incoming elections are a first for independent candidates. Alongside the possible change in governance, the following years promise to be crucial for the country’s economic development.
